Dioscorea batatas Chinese yam (Dioscoreaceae)

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Dioscorea batatas
Chinese yam
(1 Page of 5)

The Dioscorea batatas plant species is found in Temperate E. Asia, though the exact range is not known. It is a member of the Dioscoreaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Chinese yam. Some home gardeners know the variety as D. divaricata. D. opposita. Thunb.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Dioscorea batatas
Common Name:  Chinese yam
Family:  Dioscoreaceae
Author:  Decne.

Known Hazards:  Edible species of Dioscorea have opposite leaves whilst poisonous species have alternate leaves[174].

Mature Height:  3   Mature Width:  1.5

Habitat:  Found in an apparently wild situation in valleys and on the slopes of hills in China[147]. Prefers sunny slopes in the wild[254].

Medicinal Information: The Chinese yam, called Shan Yao in Chinese herbalism, is a sweet soothing herb that stimulates the stomach and spleen and has a tonic effect on the lungs and kidneys[238]. The tuber contains allantoin, a cell-proliferant that speeds the healing process[238]. The root is an ingredient of "The herb of eight ingredients", traditionally prescribed in Chinese herbalism to treat hyperthyroidism, nephritis and diabetes[254]. The tuber is anthelmintic, digestive and gently tonic[116, 147, 218, 254]. It is used internally in the treatment of tiredness, weight loss, poor appetite, poor digestion, chronic diarrhoea, asthma, dry coughs, frequent or uncontrollable urination, diabetes and emotional instability[238]. It is applied externally to ulcers, boils and abcesses[218, 238]. The tubers are harvested in the autumn and can be used raw or baked[238]. The leaf juice is used to treat snakebites and scorpion stings[218]. The roots of most, if not all, members of this genus, contains diosgenin[222, 240]. This is widely used in modern medicine in order to manufacture progesterone and other steroid drugs. These are used as contraceptives and in the treatment of various disorders of the genitary organs as well as in a host of other diseases such as asthma and arthritis[222].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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